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Firing Delay

SOLVED!

[Blind Gossip] You may be wondering what the producers of this show are thinking.

Why the heck haven’t they fired the cast member who is causing turmoil on their show?

It should be easy. But it’s not.

There are several factors at play here. We’ll talk about two of them.

The first is about the show’s ratings.

Even though they cut his story lines, they wanted to see what happened with the ratings in the meantime. There are a lot of jobs at stake. Does the show do better with him or without him? What feedback are we getting from advertisers?

Most importantly, they don’t even know if they are getting renewed. Why risk him suing them if they don’t even know if the show is coming back?

The second is about his contract.

While his contract has a personal conduct (aka “behavior”) clause built in, he hasn’t plead guilty to anything and there has been no trial to ascertain his guilt or innocence. As long as he continues to say that he is innocent, the studio has to pay out his contract. They can write down or write off his character, but they still have to pay him.

There is no point in announcing anything until they can simply say, “We will not be renewing his contract.”

So, in case you thought that this was about morality or emotions, think again. It’s about contracts and money.

That means you will likely not hear about any sort of decision for at least another month.

Similar: Emily Blunt Asked Her Husband To Fire You

Actor:

TV Show:

[Optional] If you were the producers, what would you do?

SOLVED!

Actor: Jussie Smollett

TV Show: Empire

Your friends at Blind Gossip told you that it would be at least a month before any decisions were made about Jussie Smollett and his role on Empire.

It’s been a month and a half, and the decisions about the Empire – as well as Jussie Smollett’s role on the show – are now starting to fall into place!

As we told you, producers wanted to wait for both the fallout from the legal proceedings, as well as the decision about the show being picked up for another season, before making any decisions.

Despite poor ratings, Empire will be coming back for another season.

Fake hate crime mastermind Jussie Smollett is not in jail. His contract for the show will be renewed… but his character will likely get written off the show.

From CNN:

‘Empire’ renewed for Season 6 but Jussie Smollett’s return is in doubt

“Empire” will return for a sixth season, but the same can’t definitely be said for Jussie Smollett.

“By mutual agreement, the studio has negotiated an extension to Jussie Smollett’s option for Season 6, but at this time there are no plans for the character of Jamal to return to ‘Empire,'” Fox Entertainment and 20th Century Fox TV said in a joint statement.

That means the studio isn’t including him in the series, but is leaving open the possibility of his return.

“We’ve been told that Jussie will not be on ‘Empire’ in the beginning of the season, but he appreciates they have extended his contract to keep Jamal’s future open. Most importantly, he is grateful to Fox and ‘Empire’ leadership, cast, crew and fans for their unwavering support,” a spokesperson for Smollett said in a statement.

Smollett does not appear in the final two episodes of the show’s current season, having been written out as he grappled with the aftermath of what Chicago police have said was a staged attack.

The decision, producers said at the time, was made to “avoid further disruption on set.”

On the episode of “Empire” airing this week, Smollett’s character, Jamal, the middle brother of the Lyon family at the center of the show, is said to be on his honeymoon with his new husband. Plans regarding how writers will address the character’s absence into next season are still unclear.

The “Empire” season finale airs next week.

Last week, in an appearance on “Good Day New York,” series creator Lee Daniels said Smollett’s fate was still being considered.

“There are only two judges — God and that man that wears a robe. And I cannot judge. I can only have compassion,” he said.

…
Smollett was charged with multiple felony counts alleging the actor duped the Chicago police into believing he had been the target of a hate crime.

Prosecutors later dropped the charges against Smollett, but the city has asked him for more than $130,000 to cover the cost of the investigation.

Smollett denied the allegations and his attorneys have said the actor “will not be intimidated into paying.”

Daniels said on “Good Day New York” that Chicago’s pending suit against Smollett, as well as insurance issues, were “causing a dilemma.”

Smollett has starred on “Empire” since the show’s start in 2015.

This solution may seem odd, but it works on several levels.

It insulates the producers from being sued by Jussie – because he is still “on” the show and still getting paid – but it will appease the audience and advertisers who don’t want Smollett on the show any longer.

Talent contracts can be complicated. Even if an actor has a contract for a TV series, they do not have any control over the creative story lines or what happens to their character. Even if the actor has a contract, the writers can simply write out their character.

A star of a series is likely to have a contract where they get paid for every episode over the course of a season.

Another actor might be given a different guarantee, like a “10 out of 22,” where they are given a guarantee of getting paid on a minimum of 10 episodes out of 22 during the season. So if the show runs for 22 episodes and their character is written out after the first episode – or never even appears during the season – they will still get paid for a minimum of 10 episodes.

We don’t know what kind of contract Jussie Smollett will have for next season. Our best guess is that they are going to offer him the minimal “X out of Y” contract they can get away with. He will get paid for a few episodes… but will not appear.

Congratulations to Mystic1 for being first with the correct response!

Did you catch the big clue?

Empire is a about a record label and the show takes place in the city of Chicago. Kudos to those of you who recognized that the record in the original blind item is cut into the shape of the Chicago skyline!

 
 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Naya2018 says

    Jussie Smollet
    Empire

    They will just cancel the show at the end of season 5 to be rid of the headache. The ratings are tanking since they returned from Winter hiatus. Low ratings + no Jussie + legal drama = Cancellation. He was the one of the main breakout stars of the show anyway. Without him, it’s pointless.

  4. Mumumumu says

    Jussie Smollet at Empire.

    There’s nothing to be sorted out. Advertisers will NOT show their products in a show that has a felon, with such divisive hate crime. It’s that simple.

    Most likely Empire will have another season and will die. If they’re lucky enough to be renewed.

  5. SureFineWhatever says

    With the record and skyline clue, I’m gonna go with Empire and Jussie Smollett.

  6. ChristineNYC says

    Jussie Smollett
    Empire
    Producers should recreate the alleged crime for a show plot. How uncomfortable would that make him? Faking getting beaten up twice? Lol. But for the show they should beat him to death – and kill off his character entirely. Karma.

  8. Gerseychick says

    Jessie
    Empire
    Beyond cold out in Chicago and goes out in the wee hours to Subway for a sandwich…2 white guys beat you up….What a LOSER..

  10. YakoDako says

    Jussie
    Empire

    If I were a producer on the show, I would work it into the story line. I think MORE people would watch to see how it plays out. I sure would, and I don’t even watch the show.

  15. deepsigh says

    Obviously, Jussie Smollett.

    Empire

    The producers are smart. Play it safe as he continues to self destruct. At this point,save for Queen Latifah, does anyone believe this guy?

  22. MikeyJoeChicago says

    Jussie Smollet
    Empire
    Write in some tragedy that requires hospitalization and bring him back around if he gets better.

  26. hwkgirl1 says

    William h Macy
    Shameless

    Hard considering they just had a character exit. Why is his wife named and not him? Because they don’t have any traceable evidence from him? (Phone, email)?

  32. gailpow says

    Actor: Jussie Smollett
    TV show: Empire.
    Just read that the show’s ratings were down for the first show of the new season.

  33. TeaDrinker says

    Jussie Smollett
    Empire
    Optional: If they’re going to be cancelled anyway then I wouldn’t risk firing him due to the lawsuit until after we knew if it was renewed.

  34. mizzec says

    Actor: Jussie Smollett
    TV Show: Empire
    [Optional] If you were the producers, what would you do? Give him the boot! He’ll just bring the show down with him!

  39. bertwheeler says

    Jussie Smollett
    Empire
    Write him off the show and say “See you in court. But your lawyer is going to be a lot more expensive than your ‘personal trainers'”.

  41. badgerette85 says

    Jussie Smollet
    Empire
    I think he is a distraction – write him off, pay him for the season and be done.

  42. MaryRead says

    Actor: Jossie Smollett
    Show: Empire

    What would you do: Faking a crime like this was crazy, narcissistic, hateful, and extremely detrimental to so many marginalized people. I would write the whole event into the show as a plot point & make him act his BS out, then write his character off when the Lyon family disowns him and he goes to jail. BUH BYE

  43. killyourdarlings says

    Actor: Jussie Smollett

    TV Show: Empire

    [Optional] Honestly? If I were the show’s producers i’d milk as much promo I could at this point they could use it tbh the ratings are low.

  44. Searlait says

    Actor: Jussie Smollett
    Show: Empire
    Optional: Not buying it. Other actors are fired for much less and the producers and show get away with it.

  45. ILUVCA4evr says

    Smollet

    Empire
    .
    Fire him! He has compromised the integrity of the whole show. I couldn’t care less about it now. If they keep him on, they are condoning his actions.

  49. GretaGuesses says

    Jussie Smollet of ‘Empire’

    Give him a long protracted illness in the show where he’s basically not seen anymore, except occasional shots of him in the shadows, then he passes away when his contract is up.

  52. FiyahHotFlashy says

    Actor: Jussie Smollet

    TV Show: Empire

    [Optional] If you were the producers, what would you do? Pay him and slowly write him out

  54. goodgollyholly says

    Smollett

    Empire

    Regardless if his absence changes ratings, they should get rid of him as soon as possible and until then he should not appear on the show.

  56. ezilgaloth says

    Actor: Jussie

    TV Show: Empire

    [Optional] If you were the producers, what would you do? – I’d fire him immediately and let him sue…or try. He won’t have any money for lawyers so you’ll be able to shove a quick settlement down his throat. Easy peasey. He’s a CREEP!

  57. I Am PunkA says

    Smollett

    Empire

    I’d kill him off on season finale. In a MAGA attack with a noose.

  59. Joe says

    Actor: Jussie Smollett

    TV Show: Empire

    [Optional] If you were the producers, what would you do? Probably what they are doing if that’s what his contract says. (Although why could Lori Loughlin be fired if she hasn’t pleaded guilty or been convicted either?)

  63. itsjustanothergirl says

    Actor: Jussie Smollett

    Show: Empire

    I’d recast or write the character out of the show. I think too many people will stop watching otherwise.

  64. Jelly Drop says

    Jussie Smollet
    Empire

    Really? Didn’t Kevin Spacey get turfed out of House of Cards and edited out of a movie before his trial even started? Surely there is precedent. Jussie has been charged. You bet he will say he is innocent if he gets paid every episode that airs even if he is not in the show. He will drag and fight this to the end. This is ridiculous.

  65. luddite2 says

    Jussie Smollett on Empire. If I were a producer of the show, I would just admit I work in an industry full of * and take the easy and profitable way out.

  66. foraccts says

    To easy, this is about Empire and Jussie Smallet. Hollywood sits atop its ivory tower preaching ethics and morals to the rest of us peons when their house is built on a nest of perversion and abuse.

    I would let him go on a morals clause if there is one

  67. LizardQueen says

    Jessie’s mullet

    Empire

    If I was the producers, I’d probably do exactly what they’re doing for those same reasons. If a trial happens, and he’s found guilty… that’s a whole new bag of cut the contract. Til then, not much to do but wait it out.

  68. foraccts says

    To easy, this is about Empire and Jussie Smallet. Hollywood sits atop its ivory tower preaching ethics and morals to the rest of us peons when their house is built on a nest of perversion and abuse.

  70. kittymyers says

    Jussie Smollett
    Empire

    I’d like to think I’d give him the boot because he’s bad news.

    One of the clues: That picture is the skyline of Chicago from a Chicago album.

  77. wendybar says

    He committed a HATE CRIME. If Jussie were white he would have been gone long ago, and probably in prison.

  83. High Steppa says

    Jussie “The Liar” Smollett and Empire. Sounds like the producers are doing the smart thing.

  86. zappy2050 says

    Jussie Smollett. I am sure they will fire him/”not renew his contract” but it does make sense to wait. If he is smart, his lawyer is behind the scenes negotiating a plea deal.

  93. KyrasMaMa says

    Smollett and his fake hate saga….

    This actually irks me. ABC can fire Roseanne from her own show, created by her, and was the starring character in, but yet they can’t do the same in this case for a supporting actor. What the producers SHOULD have done, is what they do in soaps all the time. “the role of XXX is now being played by YYY” and move on.

  95. cassadaga says

    Obviously Jussie. Can see now why he’s still insulting everyone’s intelligence by claiming he’s innocent.

  102. amagod121 says

    Jussie Smollett
    Empire

    I’d keep him on to avoid a law suit, but never use his character again. Instead, I’d have his father, played by Terrence Howard, say, ” Where’s Jamal? ” and have Cookie respond, “He went out to pick up the dry cleaning,” and then leave his character hanging there in an inconsequential nowhere space forever! Although gotta admit, Chuk Lorre handled it best when he had Charlie Sheen ‘s character killed by a falling piano, just like Wile E. Coyote!

  106. SouthJerseyGirl says

    Jussie Smollett – Empire.

    I would do exactly what they are currently doing.

  113. sunshine702 says

    Jussie Smollett
    Empire

    Sounds pretty smart to wait while telling the public they are writing him off.

  115. Bookworm says

    Smollett
    Empire

    Optional: I’d find a way to let him go as soon as contractually able. To see him strut into court is quite sickening.